By Mitch Coppes, Federal Government Affairs Manager, Goodwill Industries International
This week marks an important anniversary for the landmark federal law supporting older Americans. The Older Americans Act (OAA), which was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 14, 1965, established a wide range of social support and health-related services and programs for older adults. The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), authorized by Title V of OAA, supports states and nonprofit organizations in connecting low-income individuals who are age 55 and over with training and employment opportunities.
Goodwill Industries International (GII) has been a national SCSEP grant recipient since 2006 and served 2,675 older workers last year. Program participants receive paid training in part-time, service-oriented positions in their communities as they gain valuable skills and achieve self-sufficiency.
A bipartisan group of Senators recently reintroduce the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act to extend OAA’s vital nutrition, health and employment services, including SCSEP, through 2030. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, is sponsoring the reauthorization bill in the Senate. “The Older Americans Act is crucial in helping American seniors live healthy and independent lives in the settings they choose,” said Cassidy. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee and a cosponsor of the bill, further noted the importance of investing in services for older adults. “One in six older Americans are served by programs funded by the OAA,” said Gillibrand. “We owe it to seniors to strengthen and continue funding these programs so they have the support they need to age with dignity and respect.”
Despite support from lawmakers for continuing OAA programs, the Trump Administration has delayed the release of important guidance and funding allotments for national SCSEP grantees for the 2025 program year that was to begin on July 1. The unspecified delay in guidance from the administration and the disruption in federal funding has impacted SCSEP programs across the country, including those at local Goodwill® organizations, and the older workers they serve.
More than 40 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Reps Judy Chu (D-CA) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), sent a letter to the Administration asking for the immediate release of SCSEP funding for national grantees. GII endorses this effort, and we urge the Department of Labor to quickly provide the allocations needed for this important program to continue. Goodwill believes that older Americans serve a vital role in our workforce, contributing a wealth of knowledge, commitment, and insights gained through years of work and life experiences, and we celebrate their continued contributions to our communities with the support and encouragement they receive through Goodwill and SCSEP.
